The Police have arraigned three men who allegedly attacked the executives of Aso Rock Community Development Association and their security guard, causing them bodily injuries.
Oni Ayotunde (34), Osemedwa Emmanuel (32) and Prince Ifeanyi Osemedua (35), said to be staff members of Pinkron Hotels, were arraigned at the Ejigbo Chief Magistrate’s Court on a five-count charge of assault and stealing.
The prosecutor, Simon Peter, said the defendants and five others now at large, on January 27, about 7pm at Aso Rock Street Gate, Bucknor, Ejigbo, unlawfully assaulted the securityman, Jubril Mohammed, by stabbing him with a broken bottle, thereby injuring his finger.
They were accused of conspiracy to commit felony and conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace “by pushing Mohammed with broken bottles, sticks and shovels”.
The Police said Ayotunde, Emmanuel and Osemedua also unlawfully assaulted the association’s Chairman Mr Declan Umeokoro by stabbing him with a broken bottle as he tried to rescue Mohammed.
The alleged offences, the Police said, contravene sections 57, 173, 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants and the others at large stole N1.8million belonging to Aso Rock Community, contrary to Section 280 of the Criminal Laws of State 2015.
The community is afraid that there could be further attacks on the residents as some of the suspects are at large.
It petitioned Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Other Offences chairman, urging him to intervene to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the estate.
The petition was signed by Umeokoro, the CDA Secretary Mr Emdee David, community task force Chairman Mr Ikechukwu Onuegbu, Legal Adviser Mr Fred Onyeka and Publicity Secretary Babatunde Fatai.
The executives said they were seated at their monthly meeting at the gatehouse of Aso Rock Street collecting monthly security dues when Mohammed, who was stationed at their third gate by Victory Close, ran towards them while being hotly pursued by about eight men brandishing weapons.
They said Ayotunde allegedly broke a bottle and stabbed Mohammed on his finger.
As Mohammed was about to be stabbed again, he took cover behind Umeokoro, who in an attempt to protect Mohammed, raised his hand and was also stabbed in his finger allegedly by Ayotunde.
The defendants allegedly scattered the chairs and tables and stole all the money, including N1.2million collected from residents towards buying a transformer, and N70,000, being security levies.
The complainants said Ayotunde and his accomplices took Mohammed into the premises of Pinkron Hotels Limited at 9, Graceland Avenue, Harmony CDA, Bucknor Estate, while beating him with dangerous weapons.
On what led to the attack, Onyeka said: “We closed our three gates as we usually do every last Saturday, including the gate near the hotel for three hours, from 7am in order to collect security levies.
“As demanded by the Lagos State government, we placed a securityman there. Before 8am, one Oni, a staff member of the hotel, demanded that our security man should open our gate.
“The hotel has multiple gates. They belong to another CDA and they have more than one gate that opens into Harmony CDA. They had no business in our CDA.
“It was a case of inexplicable provocation. The security man used his discretion and refused to open the gate. Oni mobilised seven other men and the pursued the security man to our meeting venue.”
The association said it feared further attacks.
“There is an uneasy calm in our CDA presently because the other five suspects who are staff of Pinkron Hotels which is located next door to our community are still roaming about freely and are a clear and present danger to the peace and security of our CDA.
“We hereby call on you, sir, to intervene in the interest of life, peace and security to effect the apprehension others whose presence near our community is a threat to life, peace and security. We urge you to use your good offices and intervene decisively to bring the remaining suspects to book,” the community pleaded.
Ayotunde, Emmanuel and Osemedua pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The hotel’s Manager, Mrs Esther Abba, said the hotel did not send anyone to carry out the alleged attack.
“Pinkron Hotels is a responsible corporate citizen. It didn’t send any of her staff to injure anyone,” she said.
The magistrate, I. K. Layemi, granted the defendants bail for N300,000 each with two sureties, who must present evidence of tax clearance and whose addresses must be verified.
The case was adjourned till March 14 for trial.
